Dick's eyes slipped open. The room was blurry, a mixture of bright colors. A chittering sound came from near the door. He blinked, causing the blurs to come into focus. He sat up and saw a rat skittering away with the chunk of cheese. He tossed the comforter off and chased the rat into the hall. The rodent scurried down the stairs and into the clock room, with Dick hurrying after.

The boy leaned to look behind the clock, there was no steel blocking the passage. Dick didn't hesitate to duck into the entry. He emerged into the Other World where he made his way into the kitchen. Other Bruce stood over the stove, humming a song. He paused as the young boy padded softly into the warm space. He turned and grinned, his hair shining in the warm light of the kitchen. This Bruce looked younger, more relaxed.

"Hey chum! Welcome back!"

"Hi," Dick replied.

Bruce lifted a chunk of cheese. "It was nice of you to send this nice cheddar."

"Oh… the rat bait." Dick paused a moment, watching the man grate the piece of cheese, "I-I didn't know you cooked."

Bruce stopped grating the cheese, "Oh, I don't do it very often. I usually only do it if Alfred's busy." He resumed the grating. "Speaking of Alfred, would you please go and get him?" Bruce chuckled. "He's probably hungry as a pumpkin by now!"

Dick furrowed his brow, "Don't you mean 'Other' Alfred?"

Bruce barely shook his head. "I mean 'Better' Alfred chum. He's probably out in the garden."

"With all his cleaning I don't Alfred has time for gardening."

Bruce stuffed a strawberry in the boy's mouth. "Go on… he's just outside!"

Dick shrugged and headed out the back door. As he walked down the porch steps all he could see ahead was overgrown bushes and dead grass and plants. He pushed open the garden gate and as he stepped onto the stone path, the garden began to come to life.

The crescent moon seemed to shine brighter as the hedges grew back into orderly shapes. Flowers rose out of the dirt, their centers glowing bright. The grass grew back to reveal a stone pathway leading further into the garden.

Shiny, soft black bats squeaked and clicked as they flew through the garden and by Dick's head. The glowing flowers continued blossoming out of the flower beds, illuminating the area in blues, violets, reds, and so many more colors. Bejeweled frogs leapt out of the flower beds and hopped across the path. Dick walked past a wall covered in growing Bleeding Heart flowers, their glows matching up with their gentle thrumming beat. He followed the bats to the center, where he could see Other Alfred riding a tractor that looked like a praying mantis. He was dressed in tall rubber boots, a green apron, and gardening gloves. The seeds he was planting grew into full plants when they hit the ground.

Alfred waved, "Hello young sir!"

"Hi!" Dick called back. "I like your garden, it looks amazing!"

"Our garden Richard!" The butler called back.

A group of hooligan, freshly grown snapdragons creeped up on the boy and began to tickle him with their soft petal fangs. Dick dropped to the ground, rolling to try to avoid being tickled.

"No, wait," he kept laughing, "Stop, please, hahaha, I-" he wasn't able to continue.

Alfred gave a chuckle. "My, my, hold on Richard!" He started the mantis tractor forward, over a little bridge and done towards the laughing boy. His glove hand grabbed a gourd that looked like a trumpet; when he blew it, a deep, brass sound echoed across the garden. Jack o'lanterns rose from the fountain and began to spray water.

Alfred halted the tractor and jumped off, walking over to Dick. "Alright, stop now you dragon snappers!" He waved a finger. Quickly, he cut and swept them into a bouquet, which he handed to Dick.

Dick gave a nod of thanks. "Bruce says it's time for dinner… breakfast… food?"

But Alfred had climbed back onto the tractor. His gloved hand patted the seat beside him. "First, I want to show you something." Dick ran over and pulled himself onto the mantis. Alfred shifted a lever; the mantis sputtered and metal wings unfolded. The wings began to flap, causing them to rise into the cool night air.

Dick's mouth dropped as he gazed down at the garden below. The flowers and pathways formed a portrait of his face. Two fountains with their lights formed his blue eyes. "This, this is amazing! I can't believe you did this!"

Alfred smiled. "Bruce said you'd like it! He knows you like the back of his hand." He pushed the lever and the mantis began to descend back into the garden.

At the kitchen table in the Other Manor, Dick's plate was filled with waffles, eggs, and bacon. He drowned the entire pile in syrup, then began stuffing his face. Alfred didn't try to remind him of his manners, he simply smiled. Other Bruce tore a strip of bacon into pieces and fed them to the bouquet of snapdragons on the table.

"Mmm, this is really good!" Dick said with a mouthful of food.

"I love dinner, breakfast food!" Alfred said as he dug into a stack of eggs.

"Oh Dick," Bruce started, "Mr. Rathaway has invited you to come and see his Rat Orchestra perform after dinner."

"Really?" Dick paused in his eating. "That know-it-all Wally said it was all in Mr. Rathaway's head, I knew he was wrong!"

"Well, everything's right in this world." Alfred remarked.

Dick began to shovel food into his mouth, trying to clear his plate. After he finished Bruce smiled.

"Alfred and I can clean up here while you and your friend head upstairs."

Dick tilted his head. "My friend?"

Knock knock, sounded from the front door. Other Bruce stood up and with a smile went to open the door. Standing on the porch was Wally. Except this Wally's clothes were cleaner and he stood straighter. He too had buttons in place of eyes.

"Great," Dick groaned, "Another Wally. Hello."

Wally gave a small wave.

Dick tried again. "Hello?"

Wally just stood there, smiling.

"I thought you'd like him more if he was a bit quieter." Bruce explained. "So I fixed him!"

"So… he can't talk, at all?"

"Nope!"

Dick looked over the silent, smiling redhead. "I like it!"

Bruce's smile grew. "Alright you two, run along and have fun."

Dick ran out the door and down the porch, dragging silent Wally behind him.

The outside of the Other Manor was pristine. The roof had all its shingles, the trim was all intact, and the windows glowed from the indoor lighting. The walk to the staircase on the side of the house was silent. Dick glanced over at Wally. "You sure are cheerful for someone who can't say anything." Wally just shrugged and kept walking. Dick's brow furrowed, "It didn't hurt did it? When he… y'know?" He gestured to his own mouth.

Wally just looked at him for a moment, still smiling, but there was no light behind it. Then the redhead gestured to the night sky. A small green toy blimp was flying in front of the stars, heading towards Hartley's balcony. The two boys ran up the stairs and watched as the blimp flew into a small opening above the door. Dick knocked and suddenly the door flipped, flinging both of them inside.

Inside there were two rows of rats dressed in red vests with little bowties. They were holding little flashpoints, illuminating a red carpet leading to a stage with a closed curtain.

"Whoa…" Dick's jaw dropped. Up higher on the walls were ornate balconies holding mice dressed in suits, gowns, with pocket watches and opera glasses. One of the usher rats came up to the boys and chirped, then started to scurry closer to the stage. The boys followed and the rat gestured to a space for them close to the stage. Just as they sat down a voice sounded over a loudspeaker.

"Ladies and gentlemen, to soothe your ears and open your hearts, I, Hartley Johnson Rathaway am introducing…" A series of spotlights began dancing over the curtain, "My incredible, stupendous, astounding Rat Orchestra!"

The curtain parted to reveal over fifty rats in tuxedos and black dresses, each holding a little instruments. Hartley stepped out on the side, dressed in a suit and green cape. He tapped a conductor's baton on a music stand, then began to swing it in a rhythm. A peppy, high tune began to fill the apartment. The instrument playing rats bounced in the rhythm. Dick couldn't help but laugh. As he listened closer, the tune sounded familiar. Dick gasped, it's the main theme from the circus!

He could practically see Mr. Haley, the ringmaster, marching around the center, yelling out things to excite the crowd. The ponies with the vaulters would run in next, then the clowns and elephants. His eyes began to tear up slightly at the memories.

The rats began to play faster, the circus tune shifting into a dramatic classical piece. Dick's eyes widened as the littler bows moved faster and the drummer rats little paws flew. The music got louder and faster before coming to a booming finale.

The balcony mice rose to their feet and began clapping; Dick and Wally joined in. Hartley turned to the audience and bowed. "Thank you, thank you!"

"That was fantastic Mr. Rathaway!" Dick said. Hartley made his way over to the boys. "It was so, so…"

"Aaah," Hartley prompted.

"Amazing!"

"You are welcome anytime, you and your friend here." Hartley beamed.

Dick looked over at Wally, whose grin held joy behind it now.

"Addio Richard." The man shook the boy's hand.

Back at the house, Dick waved goodbye to Wally before heading to his room upstairs. It once again was full of color and life. He crawled under the blankets, then Bruce came in and patted his head.

"Night chum, sleep well."

Dick's eyes slowly closed. The image of a smiling Other Bruce and Alfred was the last thing he remembered.